The Fishers Arts Council is the leading art and creativity organization for Fishers. Established in 2005, this nonprofit organization’s goal is to strengthen local arts and culture to enrich the quality and economic vitality of life in Fishers. The benefits of the arts to community life are numerous and the Fishers Arts Council is working hard to advance community support for arts programs. President Jocelyn Vare explains, “The Fishers Arts Council identifies new arts opportunities and glues creative people, organizations, businesses and volunteers together to bring those opportunities to life in Fishers.” There are many upcoming initiatives for the Fishers Arts Council in 2014. Though this isn’t a comprehensive account of events, Jocelyn gave our readers the inside scoop on new and returning arts events in Fishers. All disciplines of art are supported by the Fishers Arts Council with a focus on encouraging participation in and providing access to the arts for all.

Art in the Park

The Fishers Arts Council sponsors this special event featuring live performers and approximately 40 artists displaying and selling their art. The artists’ work has been selected specifically for Art in the Park by the Fishers Arts Council. Admission is free to this daylong event, and more than 5,000 visitors are expected to attend. While in past years this event has been held in mid-September, this year the date for Art in the Park is Saturday, May 31, 2014, and it will once again be held in conjunction with the Fishers Chamber of Commerce’s Farmers Market. The new date puts Art in the Park as a feature event of Fishers’ Nickel Plate Arts Weekend, and it will be located adjacent to the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. In addition to the date change, for the first time, the event will be presented by the Fishers Renaissance Faire, an organization that will also contribute to the stage and strolling performances. The collaboration between the Fishers Arts Council and Fishers Renaissance Faire will add a new layer of entertainment to this already enriching community event. Artists and performers wishing to participate in Art in the Park can watch for a Call for Artists to be released in the near future. Follow the Fishers Arts Council on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FishersArt for up-to-date information.

Sister Cities Art Exchange

The Sister Cities Association of Fishers develops long-term relationships and partnerships with Fishers’ sister cities around the world. Billericay, Essex, UK, is one of Fishers’ most known sister cities. Students and teachers from Billericay visit Fishers and host a group of representatives from Fishers in England each year. In 2014, a double exchange of artwork between Billericay and Fishers will occur thanks to the creative vision of students and teachers during the annual exchange in 2013. Recently, Hoosier Road Elementary students sent a package full of artwork to a designated primary school in Billericay. The art was displayed so that the English students could enjoy the work of their peers from the United States. This art exchange is scheduled to continue every other month during the school year. In addition to the crowd-favorite Fishers Renaissance Faire event held in October each year, the Sister Cities Association will partner with the Fishers Arts Council for the annual Art Walk festival in Billericay. Brian Brosmer, a Fishers photographer and artist, will be submitting his work to be exhibited in England in July.

Art in Town Hall

Partnering together, the Fishers Arts Council and the Town of Fishers opened the first municipal art gallery in Fishers in 2012. New art exhibits are featured every other month and have included the Indiana Artists Club’s annual stateside show, local professionals, new artists and students. The 2014 Town Hall exhibits will include a Fishers resident’s retrospective of his mother’s work, a mixed media artist, an urban art show, K-8 students’ Fishers Freedom Festival T-shirt designs, and the annual Senior Art Showcase of HSEHS and FHS students. Fishers artists who would like to exhibit at Art in Town Hall can contact Lisa Vielee at lisa@graciecomm.com or send a message via the Fishers Arts Council Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/FishersArt .

Public Art

The Fishers Community Art Master Plan was unanimously endorsed by the Fishers Town Council on Dec. 16, 2013, establishing a long-term vision and procedures for the thoughtful placement of public art in the Fishers community. The plan was developed jointly by the Fishers Arts Council, the Fishers Cultural Tourism Group and the Town of Fishers. This collaboration is the first of its kind in Hamilton County, and a request for proposals will be shared with the community as projects are identified in 2014 during the implementation phase of selecting sites, projects and artists. The first site for new public art will likely include the Nickel Plate District, the Pocket Park on 116th Street and various community trails. More information about public art and the Fishers Community Art Master Plan can be found at http://www.fishers.in.us/index.aspx?NID=426.

The Artist Hub

The Fishers Arts Council is promoting The Artist Hub, an economic development initiative of two local artists, Anya Simpson and DeMaris Gaunt. They want Fishers residents to be able to enjoy quality art within our own community, so planning and research has begun to develop The Artist Hub. “The Artist Hub is dedicated to cultivating the love of arts in people of all ages and abilities. The hub will nurture the renaissance of arts throughout the community in a noncompetitive and creative atmosphere,” envisions Simpson and Gaunt. They strongly believe that by establishing a shared space of galleries and studios for local artists, the hub can help Fishers become a destination location. A model similar to that of the Stutz building in downtown Indianapolis is being researched due to the high interest from the artist community. Fishers residents are asked to participate in the information-gathering stage to help gauge the needs of the community for a creative space to engage in art. Please take a moment to complete the online survey at www.fishersartsurvey.com, available until Feb. 28, 2014. Residents interested in this project can contact artisthubfishers@gmail.com for more information.

Future of Fishers Arts Council

A few months ago, four new board members joined the Fishers Arts Council, and new committees will be forming this year. Development of initiatives to increase opportunities for writing and performance arts are underway. In addition, more partnerships with other groups will strengthen and broaden the arts in Fishers. One partnership is that with Fishers Music Works, a new music organization of several different professional and semi-professional ensembles that perform at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater and other Fishers locations. Fishers Arts Council representatives will be involved with planning and economic development for the Town of Fishers. Community members interested in participating in the Fishers Arts Council are encouraged to send a message to board members through the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/FishersArt.